flourish issue 1 - print
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MAGAZINE
VOL 1 | ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2016
I’M FREEYOURS TO KEEP
CARE | HEALTH | WELLBEING
Keeping cool this summer
Creating great herb gardens
The Path to Independence:a carer’s perspective
Bite size recipe
Creative usesfor home care packages
SUMMER 2016 | 32 | ISSUE 1
Home Care Shor tsA word fromour CEO
It is with great pleasure that we bring you our fi rst edition of Flourish, a
magazine for and about those people choosing to enjoy life to the absolute
fullest as they get older.
We look forward to bringing you a variety of entertaining and educational
stories and great tips on lifestyle, health, technology, food, home life, current
affairs and wellbeing. We will also endeavor to keep you updated with
the latest changes and improvements in home care, and news for older
Australians that may impact you.
Flourish aims to showcase the positive ways we are ageing in our
community, to shine the spotlight on the very different ways we all choose
to live independent and self-determined lives, and to share the many stories
from you, our clients, that inspire and remind us that age is but a number.
MichelleChief Executive Offi cer, St Ives Care
Keep up to date with St Ives Home Care
You can keep up to date with everything that is happening across the
organisation, plus view lots of helpful articles, great videos and resources.
Visit stiveshomecare.com.au
facebook.com/StIvesHomeCare
twitter.com/StIvesHomeCare
linkedin.com/company/StIvesHomeCare
youtube.com (search for ‘St Ives Home Care’)
FLOURISH MAGAZINE
Let it shineHuge congratulations to
Leanne Brennan, Case
Manager Coordinator
in WA, who beat off
competition from across
Australia to take out the
prestigious Shining Star
of the Year Award 2016 in
our annual staff recognition
program. Leanne was
recognised for her passion
for providing outstanding
care. Home care goes smartIf you’ve seen your
support worker staring at
their phone, don’t worry,
they are working! All St
Ives Home Care support
workers are now using
a nifty little smartphone
app called Home Care
Connect that lets them
see everything they need
to know about their
clients, and they can
communicate instantly
with offi ce teams too.
This is saving them time,
keeping them safe, and
also making sure you get
your service on time. Now
that’s what we call smart.
Happy holidaysWith the festive season
just around the corner,
now’s our chance to wish
you a fantastic, safe and
relaxing holiday period.
All our services will run
as usual throughout the
holidays. If you’re going
away anywhere, want
extra transport, or need
to make changes to your
services, don’t forget to
let us know. You can fi nd
all our contact details on
the back of this magazine.
Have a Go DayCongratulations to
Barbara from South
Fremantle who won this
beautiful gourmet hamper
in our raffl e at Have a Go
Day in November as part
of WA Seniors Week. SHORTS CONTINUE
SUMMER 2016 | 54 | ISSUE 1
FLOURISH MAGAZINE
ST IVES SHORTS CONTINUED
Get surfi ngOur new website launched in
September and is full of great videos
and resources you might enjoy. Check
it out at stiveshomecare.com.au
Did you know we’re also on social media? You can keep in touch via
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and
YouTube.
Tell us what you thinkWe really value your feedback. It lets
us know what’s going well and what
we could do better, and it means we
can adjust your service to give you
the best possible experience.
There’s nothing we love more than
hearing about staff who’ve gone
the extra mile. If you’ve had a great
experience with a support worker,
your case manager or even with a staff
member on the phone – tell us and
we will recognise and reward them!
If you’ve got something you’d like to
say, we’re listening. Contact your local
St Ives Home Care offi ce (phone
numbers on the back of this magazine)
or email [email protected]
Making community connectionsOur new Community
Connections program
has kicked off in WA
and QLD, aiming to
help people develop
social connections,
make friends and
enjoy a great day
out visiting iconic
locations and venues.
There’s also been
a night-time canal
cruise taking in the
colourful refl ections
of festive lights in
Mandurah, and Perth
clients have enjoyed
the sights and sounds
of aquatic creatures
at AQWA in Hillarys.
Refer a friend and go shopping on us!If you’re happy with your services and enjoy telling
people you know about home care, why not enjoy
a free shopping voucher for your efforts?
Are you inthe draw to win this
great hamper?We recently sent all our clients a letter with
updated terms and conditions ahead of the changes
in the way home care works coming next February.
Everyone who returns their forms by 21 December
will be entered into a draw, with fi ve lucky people
winning a hamper of delicious goodies.
So make sure you’re in it to win it!
Simply tell your friend to mention your name when they contact us and you could be shopping on us!
If you refer someone you know for services with either St Ives Home Care
or HomeCare Options and they sign up, you’ll be rewarded with a
$100 voucher to spend how you wish.
Across the country in QLD, clients
have enjoyed a traditional lunch
of fi sh and chips overlooking the
spectacular Broadwater, as well
as an afternoon exploring the fl ora
and fauna of the tranquil Botanic
Gardens.
Community Connections now offers
a regular calendar of events that
you may be able to access through
your home care package or privately.
Speak to your case manager to
see if you might be able to access
this program or other events and
activities in your area.
SUMMER 2016 | 76 | ISSUE 1
FLOURISH MAGAZINE
Creating a great herb garden in containersGardening can be such an enjoyable way to spend your time, and never more so than when your efforts produce delicious and nutritious ways to add a punch of fresh fl avour to your cooking.
There are so many varieties of fresh herbs that you can grow in a small space that thrive in
pots or containers. Small pots can take the heavy lifting out of gardening and bring fresh
colours and fragrances close to your kitchen for easy access and maintenance.
Here are some great tips for growing a variety of herbs all year around:
• Lots of sun: Most herbs
need full sun for best
performance. Place
your containers or pots
in locations that receive
at least eight hours of
direct sun a day. There
are some varieties like
tarragon that enjoy a little
more shade.
• Treat them mean and keep them keen: Don’t give your herbs
too much love and avoid
fertilizers. Most herbs will
give you the strongest
fragrance and fl avour if
they’re grown in lean soil.
• Water wisely: Herbs tend to prefer dry
conditions. Make sure
you don’t over-water
your herbs and allow
them to dry a little before
watering again.
• Good drainage: Most herbs prefer good
drainage. Try a soil-less
potting mix or raising
your pots off the ground.
Here are some great, hardy little herbs that perform really well in a container or pot:
Basil is a much
loved Italian herb
that goes great
with pasta dishes
and fresh tomato.
It grows best from
seed in full sun and
fertile, moist soil. A
good hint to get the
most out of a basil
plant is to pull off the
fl ower spikes, which
will encourage leaf
growth, and harvest
the leaves when
the stems become
woody.
Tarragon is a
classic French herb
that goes beautifully
with fi sh, pork, and
in sauces. Plant it in
full sun and a well-
drained potting mix.
It tolerates drought
well and shouldn’t
be overwatered,
but it doesn’t like
windy conditions.
French tarragon is
easy to grow but
rarely sets seeds.
It’s propagated by
division, or from
cuttings.
Lavender offers
a lovely fragrance
around the house.
It’s a bushy perennial
shrub that does
best in full sun
and a well-drained
potting mix. Keep it
on the dry side and
avoid fertilizer. Use a
terracotta pot as it’s
porous and dries out
quickly. A great tip is
to position lavender
near a wall or fence
in winter. These
surfaces retain heat
and release after
dark, which lavender
loves.
Lemon balm
is an old-fashioned
favourite that can
be used in herb
teas or added to
a fruit punch or
stewed fruit, and
has a lovely ‘lemony’
fl avour. It can be
grown from seeds or
cuttings and self-
sows readily. Lemon
balm is perfect for
container gardens so
it doesn’t take over
the yard. It enjoys
partial shade or full
sun and a moist,
rich, well-drained
potting mix.
Top tipIf you have a home care
package, why not ask your
case manager about help
with shopping for supplies
and setting up your own
herb garden?
SUMMER 2016 | 98 | ISSUE 1
FLOURISH MAGAZINE
As Jack’s primary carer, Kim
recognises that she needs to
make sure she takes time for
herself now and then.
“I think it’s important that we
carers do have time out and
refresh the mind, the body,
see new sites, catch up with
friends,” she says. That’s
why she’s arranged a system
of care for her dad, which
includes home care, friends,
family, and the community.
“We’ve set up a network of
care with friends and even
the local shop. If Dad wants
something during the day,
they’ll bring it round. Same
with the pharmacist.”
For Jack and Kim, they’ve
got the balance just right.
“I’d say to any older person,
they should always (if they’re
on their own particularly)
have a think about having
programs which make life
much easier and removes
the anxiety that you tend to
get,” Jack says.
Kim agrees. “I think it’s
really important for people
to know that these services
are available and that there’s
a range of things that they
can mould to their own
needs. It’s just a matter of
discussion.”
Our new podcast series, the Path to Independence, explores the lives of everyday people choosing to age at home and the different and unique situations they’ve created that work well for them. First up is Jack and Kim’s story as host Joanna Maxwell explores home care from the carer’s perspective.
Jack is 91 years old and still
lives in the family home that
he built over 60 years ago.
An active member of the
community, for many years
he was a volunteer with the
Rural Fire Service (RFS),
where was the deputy
captain and trained a
number of volunteers.
But that’s not all. As
well as sitting on the
Progress Association, Jack
volunteered at the library
and helped with bush
regeneration.
With a rich and fulfi lling life
in his local area, as Jack got
older it was important to him
to stay in his home.
“I just felt that I was part of
the general community and
certainly didn’t want to leave
it,” Jack says.
So since 2008, his daughter
Kim has been helping look
after Jack’s needs, and she
recently moved back into the
family home so she could
support him more.
“It’s been a delight being
with Dad,” Kim says. “It’s
taken a lot of angst away
because I know he’s ok.”
Though Kim looks
after the day to
day needs of
her father, she
recently arranged
extra help through
daily home care.
“I particularly had
noted that Dad had
been becoming a
little despondent, if not
depressed,” Kim explains.
“So I thought [getting home
care] would set a rhythm to
the day and start the day
in a bright fashion. And a
special bonus was that he’d
get the breakfast cooked
that he wanted.
“They only come in for an
hour, but they also make his
bed and they put washing
out for him or bring it in.”
It might only be
small, but having
someone else there
to help Kim in her
care duties makes
a big difference.
“Having St Ives Home Care
help with issues puts my
mind at ease. It makes me
feel that I’m not working all
the time and it can free me
to literally go to work. I know
that Dad has the confi dence
to deal with a lot of things
then.”
Hom e car e fr om the car er ’s per spective
podcast A free radio show that is
stored in a digital form
that you can download
from the internet and play
on a computer or on an
MP3 player.
Cambridge English Dictionary
Have a listenListen to the full Path to
Independence podcast
series on our website at
stiveshomecare.com.au/
path-to-independence-
podcast
Take partWould you like to appear in our next issue? Let us know by emailing
Host Joanna Maxwell met Jack and Kim in episode one of the
Path to Independence
SUMMER 2016 | 1110 | ISSUE 1
FLOURISH MAGAZINE
Do you know there are so many ways to add a bit of spice to life with your home care package budget?
As well as the care services you might expect, some of our clients are discovering some of the creative ways to add value at home while putting excess surplus funds in their budget to good use.
Emma Brierty, General Manager for Home Care in WA, says it’s good to have a little in your
surplus for that rainy day. But leaving too much to build up means those government funds
are not being put to their best use.
“I really encourage people to spend their budget on things that matter to them. Keep
enough aside for those unforeseen events, but really this money is there for you to use and
add value in your life now.”
Creative waysto use your home care package
These are just a few examples of how to get creative with your home care package. Accessing
any of these great services when you have extra budget is just a phone call away - simply speak
to your case manager or call your local offi ce (numbers on the back
of this magazine).
Organise a spring cleanin the house or the garden
The holiday season is fast approaching so
now’s the perfect time to have someone
go through and give the house a good
scrub out from top to bottom, or the
garden a thorough tidy up. Yes, you can
get a whole day of cleaning and more
with your home care package if you have
the budget.
We’ve pulled together just a few ideas on how you can use surplus funds and get your home care package working for you.
Get ou t and abou tand socialise
Getting socially active is a great way to reduce feelings of isolation, pick up your
mood and recharge the batteries. Consider going to a family or community event,
taking in a movie or a concert, going out for lunch or a walk, or going to the end
of year sales.
The St Ives Home Care Community Connections program (currently available in
WA and QLD) offers a calendar of group excursions for people looking for a little
social connection. Find out more about the program on page four of this edition of
Flourish, or speak to your case manager to see if you might be eligible.
Get coo kingFancy company to cook with now
and then, or an extra pair of hands
to help you prepare a special meal?
Depending on your budget, your
support worker can stay on for a
couple of extra hours a week to cook
a meal or bake a cake with you.
Buy som e equipment like an iPad
Some equipment is designed to make
life a little easier, so why not consider
learning something new?
One St Ives Home Care client used his
budget to purchase an iPad and learn
how to use it. He’s now enjoying the
new device to keep in touch with the
grandchildren. Another client made use of
her budget to purchase a much-needed
fridge to safely store food and drink.
Con sider other ser vicesWe have a number of other services
that you can access from your
budget, either by dipping in and out
of them, or by adding them to your
routine in the longer-term.
Allied health is a great example
of an extra service that can have
far-reaching benefi ts in all aspects
of your life, particularly around
improved mobility and fl exibility.
cake with you.
SUMMER 2016 | 1312 | ISSUE 1
FLOURISH MAGAZINE
They might be small, but these little bites really pack a punch. Each ball is full of
super ingredients that help raise your energy levels and deliver a whole host of
important nutrients. What’s more is they don’t require any cooking, and they can
last in the fridge for a whole fortnight. You can even freeze them, meaning you’ve
got a supply of nutritious energy snacks for whenever you need a delicious,
healthy boost or a sweet treat to share with friends or family over the holidays.
The benefi ts
These little super balls contain
cinnamon that may help to regulate
blood sugar levels, and dates which are
a great source of fi bre.
Cocoa is the highest known anti-
oxidant on the planet and frequent
consumption may reduce the risk of
heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, an anti-
oxidant that helps protect against
damaging free radicals and are also
high in monounsaturated fats, which are
benefi cial for heart health.
Coconut oil increases the energy
content of these little balls making
them perfect for small appetites, not
to mention how perfect they are as a
sweet fi nger food option!
They’re also soft enough to be enjoyed
by those who have diffi culty eating
fi rmer foods, and light enough to take
with you when you go out.
A sweet but healthy tr eatDate and almond bliss balls
Ingredients
• 125g raw or toasted silvered almonds
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch sea salt
• 1 tablespoon pure cocoa powder
• ½ tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
• 1 tablespoon skim milk powder
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 70g dates, soaked in boiling water for
20 minutes, drained, reserve some
liquid (Medjool dates are best)
• ¾ teaspoon orange zest (micro plane)
• Milo, desiccated coconut,
or sesame seeds, to roll.
Method
1. Place ¾ of the toasted almonds in
the food processor with cinnamon,
salt, cocoa powder, vanilla bean
paste, skim milk powder and melted
coconut oil. Blitz until it resembles a
fi ne crumb.
2. Add the dates and pulse to bring
together.
3. Pulse in the remaining almonds and
orange zest until you get an ever
so slightly sticky consistency. You
may need to add a little of the date
soaking liquid to get the required
texture.
4. Roll into 16g balls and toss in Milo,
desiccated coconut, or sesame
seeds. Refrigerate and serve.
Nutritional information
Per 16g ball Per 100g
Energy (kJ) 182 1135
Protein (g) 1.2 7.2
Fat (g) 3.3 20.4
- Saturated (g) 0.8 5.0
Carbohydrate (g) 2.2 13.5
- Sugar (g) 2.1 12.9
Fibre (g) 0.8 4.7
Sodium (mg) 2.6 16.0
Date and almond bliss balls
Source: maggiebeerfoundation.org.au
Not suitable for people with nut allergies.
Each ball is full
of super ingredients
that help raise your
energy levels and
deliver a whole host of
important nutrients.
SUMMER 2016 | 1514 | ISSUE 1
FLOURISH MAGAZINE FLOURISH MAGAZINE
4 Get fruity If you’re having trouble drinking your
recommended eight glasses of water
a day, try freezing pureed fruit or whole
berries in your ice cube tray and adding
them to a glass of water to give it a
great fruity twist.
5 Cut the caffeine and alcohol
While it’s good to drink a variety of
water and fruit and vegetable juices,
stay away from drinks that contain
caffeine and alcohol. As refreshing as
they might feel at the time, caffeine
and alcohol actually dehydrate you,
reducing the liquid your body so
desperately needs when it’s hot.
6 Keep it long and loose
Although the tendency is to strip off in
the summer, it’s actually much better
to wear long sleeves and trousers. As
well as protecting your skin from the
sun, loose, lightweight cotton helps
keep tiny droplets of sweat close to
your skin. As the sweat evaporates, it
cools you down, meaning you can feel
the benefi t of your body’s own natural
cooling system for longer.
7 Layer up
Going in and out of full blown summer
heat and cool air conditioning can
leave you too hot one minute and
too cold the next. Wear layers of light
clothing so you can add and remove
items according to your comfort.
8 Cool quickly If you’re feeling overheated, move
to a cooler place straight away and
lie down if you need to. Applying
ice packs or a damp fl annel to your
wrists, neck, armpits and ankles will
cool you down fast.
9 Have a tepid dip Having regular tepid baths or showers
throughout the day is a fantastic way
to cool down and keep your body
temperature steady. Make sure the
water’s not too cold though – it will
only have the desired effect if it feels
pleasant rather than shocking.
10 Ask for help Friends, family, neighbours and
support workers can all help you
when temperatures are high. Everyone
struggles in the heat, so people are
usually very willing and able to share
things like bags of ice or spare fans
if you ask them. If you have a home
care package, your case manager can
arrange for special services or more
regular check ins on the hottest days
to make sure you stay happy, healthy
and hydrated throughout the summer.
Summer is many people’s favourite time of year. The days are longer, some of the most delicious fruits are in season, and who can forget the anticipation of fun, family and friends during the holiday season.
The downside, of course, is that summer can get hot – overwhelmingly so at times.
As we head into high temperatures and dry weather, here are our top ten tips for
beating the heat and staying hydrated this summer.
1 Use your air conditioning
Nothing can keep your
temperature regulated as well
as air conditioning can. If you’re
lucky enough to have an air
conditioning unit, make sure you
use it. It’s there for a reason, and
the benefi ts of staying cool far
outweigh any negatives.
Setting the air conditioning to a
room temperature of 25°C/77°F
and cleaning or replacing the fi lter
every six months will help keep the
unit running at its most effi cient.
Some energy providers also offer
discounts to seniors to reduce
the cost of air conditioning, so do
check in with your provider to see
what you might be eligible for, or
ask your case manager.
2 Use someone else’s air conditioning
If you don’t have air conditioning
at home, how about going
somewhere that does? It’s a great
excuse to get out and socialise,
and almost all public spaces
nowadays are air conditioned.
A stroll around the shopping
centre or reading a book at the
local library gives you a change
of scene and lets your body cool
down for a while too.
3 Reinvent your fans
Rather than cooling you down,
electric fans tend to circulate hot
air – but turn them around and
they can actually blow hot air out
of your house. Try pointing them
out of windows, which will push
hot air outside and help circulate
cooler air from other rooms. And
if you’ve got ceiling fans, set them
to spin anticlockwise (clockwise
when you look up at them) so
they pull hot air up instead of
pushing it down into the room.
10 totally cool ways to beat the heat this summer
If you experience any of these
symptoms, contact a medical
professional immediately.
Heat strokeHeat stroke can be a serious condition.
Symptoms include:• headache
• dizziness
• confusion
• rapid pulse
• nausea &
vomiting
WA 1300 20 20 03
VIC 1300 20 20 04
NSW 1300 20 20 05
QLD 1300 20 20 06
NT 1300 20 20 07
ACT 1300 20 20 08
Email [email protected]
www.stiveshomecare.com.au
HomeCare Options is a member of
the St Ives Care group of brands.
We are proud to offer clients this
complimentary magazine.
Phone 1300 60 60 01
Email [email protected]
www.homecareoptions.com.au